To Catch some Crims - Operation Jackdaw
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Telum Capital Defence Command
Headquarters of the Imperial Armed Forces
Strategic Meeting of the Imperial Defence Council
Operation Jackdaw [IC Secret]Attendance:
- H.I.M. Emperor Artabanos
- Imperial Defence Office Boris Mancov
- Imperial Councillor Basil Lawson
- Chief of the General Staff Vice Admiral John Bauer
- Chairman of the Imperial Special Forces Command High Sheriff Roger Appelar
- Prince-General of the Imperial Army Lord Thomas Purdue
- Legate for Terra Diutius Major-General Dr Henry Luyt
Appelar: "Your Imperial Majesty, we have selected our targets, we have a clear sight on their movements over the next week, and we have the operational capacity at the ready for immediate orders. I called this meeting for You to give Your Assent."
Artabanos: "Run me through the suspects and the plan one more time, Roger."
Appelar: "Very well. As you know, we have targeted several individuals we believe to be responsible for the downing of Needletail One -- all are establishment individuals in the Neo-Venetian junta gang, the Social Republican Army. The individuals in question are, in order of seniority:
- Dominic Dalfarra, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Neo-Venetia's so-called Parliament;
- Andrew 'Marco' Brookfield, Deputy Minister of Defence and member of the Central Committee of the Social Republican Army;
- Paul 'Lando' Ambrogio, Northern Group Command, Social Republican Army -- the man we hold personally responsible for ordering the missile strike that caused Your plane to crash, Your Imperial Majesty;
- And Col. Peter Zan, Northern Command, People's Army of Neo-Venetia, who we believe was in charge of Neo-Venetia's surface-to-air missiles at the time of the crash.
By press exposure through the usual channels, we have positively rattled all four individuals, so much so that they have been meeting regularly to discuss escape plans. Meeting with each other, and meeting with our confidential informant..."
Artabanos: "Sounds like a lovely gathering. How will we get our hands on them?"
Appelar: "We have intelligence that Dalfarra and Marco are due to meet in Neo-Venetia's capital, Neo-Venetia City, on Wednesday 3rd March. The plan is to kill two birds with one stone by naval-based special forces infiltration from the Second Fleet. The other two birds are currently still in Northern Neo-Venetia, and will be snatched in cross-border actions by forces currently based in Terra Diutius during the afternoon of the same day. All in all, both operations should take no longer than 30 minutes."
Bauer: "Chances of casualties on our side?"
Appelar: "Minimal, though, as always, not impossible. I will say, Your Imperial Majesty, Your continuous investment into the Special Forces branch of Your Armed Forces has indeed paid off. Our troops are readier than ever."
Artabanos: "Very well. Any questions so far?"
Lawson: "As a matter of fact, yes, Your Imperial Majesty. Are the Angleterics aware of what we're about to do in their former territory? I met with representatives from the Angleteric government a few months back, if you'll recall, and though they welcomed our diplomatic support, they did not seem keen on us intervening by ourselves."
Artabanos: "We're not intervening, Basil, so much as apprehending criminals. Anyway, I'm sure the Angleteric Crown is well aware of our intentions, am I right, Boris?"
Mancov: "Fully. As a matter of fact, we have to act quickly, or they'll likely begin their own operations before we can."
Artabanos: "Excellent. Let's go over the details before we commit."
TBC
- H.I.M. Emperor Artabanos
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DETACHMENTS OF THE INIMICIAN 2ND FLEET
15 miles off the Neo-Venetian Coast
3rd March 2021, 0445hrs
Helicarrier HIMS Cocx
Everything depended on the next hour. Vicarius Wilfred Cocx, having been flown into the ship that bore his name, watched as detachments of the Imperial Army's Special Force Command boarded the Imperial Naval Air Squadron's transport helicopters, dressed in full night gear. Further attack helicopters would be flown in from HIMS Caveat, specially detached from the 1st Fleet for this crucial mission. Go time was 0500hrs - the same time at which units of the Fugit Mountain Assault Command's 1st Mountain Brigade would cross into Neo-Venetia from Terra Diutius.
This was the moment Cocx had been working towards for the last seven months. Apprehending the Neo-Venetian criminals who had defiled his Emperor's honour was a mission of personal importance to Cocx. For days, the Imperial Navy had been secretly positioning its units strategically around Neo-Venetian waters. Three of Inimicus's cruise missile submarines had entered Neo-Venetian waters late on the 2nd, and elements of the Imperial Naval Air Squadron were nearby on board HIMS Artabanos and HIMS Endeavour to offer fire assistance, where necessary.
The engines started running. The most daring arrests the Inimician Imperial Armed Forces had ever committed to were now commencing. A special forces officer caught Wilfred Cocx's eye - a tall man, face all but covered by a black rag, looked up at him. The future of the Empire depended on this man, the honour of the Emperor at stake. A curt nod was all Cocx could manage. And so, the officer climbed aboard, and Cocx would never see him again.
TBC
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IMPERIAL ARMY - SPECIAL FORCE COMMAND
3km from Target in Neo-Venetian Capital, Neo-Venetia City
0508hrs, 3rd March 2021
Officer Commanding: Lt Gen Karaca
The deafening noise of the overhead engines no longer affected any of the men on board the four helicopters that the Emperor had personally ordered to extract His enemies from Neo-Venetia. Lt Gen Karaca was the most experienced special forces commander in Inimicus -- his experience conducting cross-border operations in the Inimician Civil War of 2011 was revered throughout the country, and especially by politicians in high office. But this task made him more nervous than most he had conducted before. This was the fate of the Empire at stake. He briefly recalled the look Vicarius Cocx had given him from the command tower on the helicarrier -- words failed to express the sentiment. He could not fail. He would capture these criminals, or die trying.
"Squad", Karaca began, "5 minutes to target. Recap?"
Major Stuart went over the final details of the plan one last time: "Targets are Dominic Dalfarra and Marco Brookfield, both currently residing at the same government address in Neo-Venetia City. Intelligence confirmed the rooms they're staying in. At go-time, Jennings and Curt will breach two strategic windows and infiltrate, the rest of the squad absails down into the central courtyard and will eliminate security. B team and C team, in the other choppers, will secure a perimiter, allowing for our heli to land in the courtyard and extract the suspects."
"Back-up plans?"
"If resistance is heavier than expected or hostile reinforcements are brought in, use the code Telum Scram for immediate IAF and missile assistance."
"Good luck, gentlemen. Make your Emperor proud."
Karaca observed his two most experienced and capable operatives skilfully breach the two windows to the suspects' bedrooms within seconds of the helicopters arriving on scene. He directed all others on board to slide down the ropes that now hung from the craft and onto the courtyard. He was the last to go down himself. He looked around, the noise and dust made it hard to see. The moment he began his descent, he felt a sting hit his back, reverberating down his entire body. He could not hold on, and the last thing he saw was the ground hurling towards him at lightning speed.
"Officer hit, officer hit."
From the helicarrier, Vicarius Wilfred Cocx listened in to radio traffic and watched satellite footage of the raid. He had not expected things to go sour this quickly. "Shots fired, two hostiles down" was the next he heard. There had been tense moments in Wilfred Cocx's life: his backing of Artabanos prior to the Civil War; the commotion after his orders to use nerve gas on protestors (later cleverly blamed on someone else); shenanigans in the National Imperial Council. But this, this was the hardest, most stressful time he had ever experienced.
Meanwhile, Lt Gen Karaca lay unconscious in the courtyard. Medical operatives stabilised him and moved him inside one of the buildings to allow the heli to land. Major Stuart, aware of his CO's fate, breached Dominic Dalfarra's room and, to his relief, found the Neo-Venetian criminal alive and well. Radio chatter confirmed Marco Brookfield had also been apprehended. Stuart believed this might work after all. That is, until he heard the sound of approaching vehicles. The sounds of shooting soon followed. "Alert: three hostile technicals, estimated three-zero hostiles on-scene. Fire support requested", he heard one of the NCOs report. Had the helicopter landed yet? Were they ready for extraction? Why was the heat so stifling?
Stuart's first priority was the safety of the squad and the hostages. He proceeded to lead Dalfarra and Brookfield downstairs, into the courtyard, while the shooting and explosions intensified around them. "Man down, man down", the radio announced. The helicopter could be seen descending into the courtyard, occasional shots bouncing off the armour. Stuart saw no other option. He grabbed his handset, and announced: "Alert, alert: Telum Scram. I repeat: Telum Scram."
Wilfred Cocx noticed the room jumping into action. Orders and technical jargon were shouted around, aircraft were put into action, jet engines were heard starting up. "What's going on?", Wilfred asked the officer accompanying him. "The emergency signal has been given, Your Excellency. Five ground attack fighters have been scrambled to offer on-hand fire support, and submarine-laden cruise missiles are on standby." Wilfred's heart sank. "So it is in Neo-Venetia that my political career finds its end", he thought.
--
Within minutes, Major Stuart heard fighter jets overhead. Deafening explosions were heard as missiles and bombs struck Neo-Venetian vehicles and fighters. Some of his squad guarding the outside entrance to the courtyard began unloading their weapons, and Stuart saw one of them go down. He ran over, crossing underneath the path of the descending helicopter, and looked straight into the eyes of a Neo-Venetian Social Republican Army fighter.
TBC
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UNDISCLOSED LOCATION
NEO-VENETIA CITY
5.15am, MARCH 3rd, 2021"What?"
"What?"
"Right but that wouldn't; they wouldn't--"
"What?"
Spartaco was struggling to understand what the man on the other end of the line was jabbering about. A helicopter? Stormtroopers? Dalfarra's place? This was not in any of the SRA or the 'official' army's war plans. This was nothing they'd expected at all.
"Are you sure you're no-- right no I could hear that. But enemy can what? Enemy can helicopters? Obviously they can, I can hear them. But why are the Angle-- ohhhhhh. Right, yeah, one moment."
VIDEO-CONFERENCE CALL
VARIOUS LOCATIONS, NEO-VENETIA
5.25am, MARCH 3rd, 2021Spartaco: OK, thanks to those comrades who managed to get up this morning. We're still trying to contact Dalza and he'll join the call, I'm sure, as soo-- EEE EEE EEE EEE EEE
Audible groans
Spartaco: Right, I've just muted everybody. Use the raise hand function if you want to speak. There's a button, it says 'raise hand'. Don't raise your actual hand. OK? Right. So as far as I understand, the Inimicans have launched an attack on the Speaker's residence, which is also where Marco was at the time. The Inimicans have seized the building but SRA men are on the scene. We've neutralised at least one of their operatives. I'm going to bring in Belisario, from SRA Centre Group Command, who's going to explain the plan.
Belisario: Thanks, comrades. The situation is unclear at the moment, but our objective now is to surround the building and ensure the Inimicans can't leave, with or without Marco and Dalfarra. The Inimicans know our prowess for surface-to-air missiles better than anyone except our dearly departed former PM, so we've put our surface-to-air operations on high alert for any incursions. They might send helicopters, fighters, whatever, from the sea or land, to bail themselves out of this.
Spartaco: Sorry, Comrade Belisario, Comrade Lando from Northern Group Command has a question. Lando?
Lando: Thanks, Comrade Spartaco. Comrade Belisario, do we know why the Inimicans are doing this? Should I be worried?
Spartaco: Comrade Lando, we'll deal with the precise issue later. What is clear is they want hostages from us, so we will take hostages from them. Comrade Belisario?
Belisario: That's right, comrade. Our objective here is to capture, dead or alive, Inimican intruders. We need to teach them that incursions will pay. We need to give them a taste of their own medici--
Lando: It's only, we all know where the buck stops on the action last year, and I d--
Spartaco: Comrade Lando, I'm putting you on mute. You're to stay at your post until further instructions, OK? Comrade Belisario.
Belisario: Thanks again. We need to give them a taste of their own medicine here. Our primary goal is to capture the intruders; recovering Comrade Marco and Comrade Dalfarra is a secondary objective at this point. They are revolutionaries, they know that sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the cause. Comrade Lando might like to reflect on that rather than this undignified yelping, and if he can stop making that hand sign then I'd really apprecia-- can we kick him from the call? Can we please kick Comrade Lando for the call, this is really uncomradely behaviour.
Spartaco: Comrade Lando, you will listen. Comrade Belisario, I think you've summed up our point rather succinctly.
Belisario: Right, yeah, just another update, the Inimican planes have got through already. I can't stress enough at this point how crucial it is we, and I mean both SRA and PANV, get our anti-air into action now, especially over the capital; and our focus is going to be making sure they can't land, and making sure we isolate their intruders on the ground.
SPEAKER'S RESIDENCE
NEO-VENETIA CITY
5.25amBandiera's platoon were the first on the scene, having been alerted by the Speaker's security, who had tactically withdrawn briefly to join up with his men. 'That makes 32, 33 of us? Not enough,' he thought. He'd radioed for support, and one upside of being a post-coup regime is that Neo-Venetia city was crawling with troops and other armed personnel; but this advantage was almost irrelevant now.
"Surround them," he ordered his men. "We surround the building, surround their perimeter, and we wait for the reinforcements to attack. Under no circumstances do they break out, do they get any chance to link up with anyone who might land, and for fuck's sake, get the anti-air guns into action! Take them to the side facing the sea, and go, go, go!"
The orders were unorthodox, but broadly effective. The anti-air at least made the Inimican jets dodge a little before proceeding to pick off the SRA men. "Fuck, they're too powerful," said Bandiera to himself, before radioing for instructions.
"Comrade Bandiera, if you're unable to secure a perimeter, then assault the courtyard and prevent hostile withdrawal while reinforcements secure the perimeter instead. Your objective is to prevent hostile withdrawal at all costs."
"Command, does that include the lives of friendlies?"
"Yes."
Bandiera collected a portion of his men and stormed the gates. Almost as soon as he'd burst through, he came face to face with an Inimican major.
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SOMEWHERE OFF THE NEO-VENETIAN COAST
0530hrs
The vague light of sunrise could be seen from the East. But there would be no sunrise for several Inimician Special Forces operatives. Casualties had already exceeded the Imperial Army's highest estimations, and with SRA reinforcements seemingly popping up out of nowhere, the situation looked exceedingly unmanageable. This also became clear to Vicarius Wilfred Cocx, still in the control room on board the helicarrier that was named after him. Shouts of "At least 200 more hostiles on approach" and "Overwhelming enemy firepower" and "Take-off not cleared" filled the room. Roger Appelar, the highest officer on-deck, confirmed increasing enemy anti-aircraft presence in the city, making it impossible for the Inimicians' helicopters to extract the hostages.
"We must deploy the cuise missiles. Authorise our subs to launch upon confirmation of surface-to-air sites."
Vicarius Cocx could already see the European-wide headlines. "THOUSANDS PERISH IN INIMICIAN MISSILE STRIKES". He interjected: "This is one of the most densely populated areas in the country, Roger. Think of the hundreds of civilian deaths. As superior officer, I order you to stand down."
"Your Excellency, with all due respect, look at the screens. Look at our soldiers. The entire mission depends on how many aircraft we can get in the air. Yes, we have drones on the way. Yes, more fighters have been scrambled. Yes, all special forces teams have now been deployed on the ground. Yes, more attack helicopters are on the way. But they have no hope of operating successfully if these surface-to-air missiles are not taken out."
Cocx viewed the movements of the men he now felt he had sent to their deaths. Causing someone's demise was easy enough from a distance -- Cocx had ample experience with this. But seeing those he was responsible for surrounded, cut off, and in danger of suffering death or, worse, imprisonment by the SRA, made him shiver. A long pause, silence ensuing. "Are you sure you have the sites mapped?"
"We are sure."
"Launch."
SPEAKER'S RESIDENCE COURTYARD
0535hrs
Major Stuart rolled behind a nearby wall, shots whistling around him, damaging the brickwork. An all-out assault now seemed to have commenced. "Concentrate fire on the main gates", Stuart radioed in, "Air support critical at main gates!" -- the noise and smells of combat became almost overwhelming, and took Stuart back to the days he had stormed the defences of Telum in 2011. His will to survive had not given in then, however, and it would not give in now. Air support came at last in the form of an attack helicopter, unleashing its full firepower onto the approaching SRA troops.
"MANPAD, four-o-clock!", Stuart informed the helicopter crew, just a fraction of a second too late. He saw an SRA fighter on the residence balcony, bearing a handheld missile, fire at the Inimician craft, which was struck in the tail. The whirring of engines intensified and then died down in a crash of fire. "Heli down, heli down", the radio announced.
Stuart knew the Inimicians could not stay where they were, especially with the wreckage of a helicopter blocking extraction. In a moment of quiet, he made his way to some of the NCOs. "Listen, our backup plan is now in effect. Gather the hostages, we make for the backup location." Under fire, the special forces team made their way through a broken-open window to a nearby park. About five minutes into the journey, Stuart heard a sound he thought he had banished from his memory: guided missile strikes. "Cover, cover!", he shouted, as three conventional ballistic missiles struck strategic surface-to-air sites nearby.
They never noticed two of their operatives had been surrounded and forced to surrender by SRA men in one of the mansion's rooms, and the pilots of the downed chopper were still alive.
JUST ACROSS THE INIMICIAN-VENETIAN BORDER
0535hrs
"Focus on the here and now. We can do nothing to help them."
The second Inimician incursion into Neo-Venetian territory had been underway for around 30 minutes, and was approaching its target, the Social Republican Army facility where Lando Ambrogio and Peter Zan were stationed. This operation was designed to be different to the Neo-Venetia City extraction campaign: a small group of special forces operatives was to disable air defences and missile systems covertly, before the hostages would be extracted through the air. Captain Baris Moore, a newly-commissioned officer, led the special forces team, which had paused about a mile from the Neo-Venetian camp.
"You know the plan. A team proceeds around the west, disables SRA anti-air positions around the north, west, and south sides of the compound. B team does the same, from the east. C team breaches the fence and proceeds directly to the officers' quarters. Good luck, gentlemen. Time to go." Through his radio, he announced: "Jackdaw is a-go, I repeat, Jackdaw is a-go. Extraction ETA, two-zero minutes."
Without being noticed, the teams split up and made their way around the compound, surrounding it and disabling several anti-aircraft guns. Captain Moore, who had joined C team, ordered his men to cut the barbed wire surrounding the camp, and snuck into the grounds unseen. He proceeded at the head of the 10-man column around some of the buildings, checking every corner. An SRA guard, posted at the Inimicians' planned entry point inside, startled the Captain as he proceeded around a corner. He noticed the guard's surprise, and swiftly neutralized him, but not before he had let out a cry of help, and aroused the compound around.
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NEO-VENETIA CITY -- SMALL PARK NEAR TO SPEAKER'S RESIDENCE
0555hrs
Bells ringing in Major Stuart's ears. The sound of nearby missiles striking anti-air installations reverberated through his head. What was high command thinking, using guided missiles in a densely populated capital city? In a region where friendlies were active? At the very least, the strikes appeared to have bought the Inimicians some time, and time was all they needed. The evacuation helicopter approached the green to the southwest of the stand-by evacuation zone, covered by two attack helicopters, now undeterred by heavy anti-air installations. The ever-present danger of handheld anti-air missiles was still undiminished, however, and the main duty assigned to Stuart's squad was now to keep their eyes peeled for anyone who might cause the helis trouble.
"Major Stuart, we have images of hundreds of armed personnel approaching your position", the radio then announced, "Be advised: evacuate immediately."
Stuart could see them. A mob of shooting and shouting men, approaching from the east through a residential street. The Major radioed for intensive air support and started guiding the evacuation chopper down to the ground. "Evac in 3 minutes", he decided, "Hostages first." Under the heaviest fire, the Imperial Air Force helicoper managed to descend low enough for the hostages to be loaded on, followed by most of Stuart's brigade. He ordered the final operatives onto the heli, and started moving himself.
He announced everyone was aboard, but saw a straggler running towards the helicopter as it started ascending. He grabbed onto the private's hand and lifted him on. A shot rang. The sound of a bullet impacting flesh. The private's face turned to pain and death, and Stuart was forced to let go.
They had made it -- but at what cost?
SRA CAMP, NORTHEASTERN NEO-VENETIA
0559hrs
Shouts and screams started appearing from every direction. The Inimicians' quiet approach had failed. Swiftly, Captain Moore radioed for air support, being confident that most anti-air establishments had been disabled, and directed his platoon to enter the inner camp buildings. Making their way through the makeshift buildings, several SRA fighters were swiftly neutralised, but there was no way the Inimicians would get to Ambrogio and Zan unaware.
"Jackdaw, be advised: convoy is a-go, ETA three-zero minutes", Moore heard through his handset. High command had decided to deploy the backup convoy waiting along the border. Help would come, but not for another half hour. Moore and his team approached the room where Ambrogio and Zan were thought to be housed. Swiftly, they kicked in the door and deployed a stun grenade, but what they saw upon entering was beyond their wildest expectations.
Ambrogio and Zan were there. As were two pistols. The Neo-Venetian officers aimed for each other. "There's no way you're getting us alive", one of them said, and his finger started moving. In the blink of an eye, Moore and his sergeant fired two shots, hitting both men in the arm. "Jackdaw, be advised: air support en-route, ETA six zero seconds. Convoy en-route, five klicks away."
"Command, Tiger One and Tiger Two both injured - requesting evac ASAP", Moore replied, and took out his first aid kit in an attempt to stop the bleeding. More SRA fighters were converging on their position, and Moore ordered all Inimicians on site to rally at the officers' quarters. Over the next few minutes, operatives started to arrive, some injured, one or two dead, dragged along by their comrades. Fire started to intensify, and before long, Moore heard the sound of heavy, approaching engines.
"Command, be advised: armour units approaching our position. ETA on convoy?"
"Jackdaw, convoy pinned by heavy resistance. Air support imminent."
High command did not lie. Virtually instantly, the sound of jet engines approached, and missiles could be heard launching against the Neo-Venetian tanks now just hundreds of metres away. Helicopters soon followed, firing their ordinance relentlessly against any SRA target in sight, Radio chatter from pilots dominated wireless traffic, but one alert stood out: "Alert: MANPADS spotted, southwes--" A crack. Static. After several seconds, a loud crash outside. Moore knew this was dire.
Making the move to evacuate to the convoy, Moore's team and the hostages came under intense SRA fire, and three operatives were injured and had to be left. With pain in his heart, Moore made his way through bullets and explosions whistling around, being circled by Inimician helicopters and covered by Eurofighters. Missile strikes from overhead drones impacted all around, and it was hard to see.
Finally, Moore's brigade, or what was left of it, reached the Inimician convoy, which immediately made an about-face and started returning to the border. Moore realised only when his hostages were loaded onto an armoured personnel carrier that both had sustained further gunshots, and serious ones at that.
The End
